Page 149 of Friendzone Hockey
“Since when are you the bossy one?”
“Since my brother’s happiness is on the line. Stace hasn’t been this happy since before Mom died. He wasn’t even this happy when he got drafted or pulled up from the Wildcats.”
Is he that happy because of us? “Really?”
“Yes, really. Text him.”
I pull out my phone and stare at it. Stacey went to the bank with Sutter to get the details on co-owning a home in Vancouver, but he wanted me to stay here because he said there was a surprise he wanted to arrange for me.
He’s coming back soon. There’s nothing you need to worry about.
“If you can’t bring yourself to ask him how much longer he’s gonna be, send a heart emoji. Trust me on this one.”
Never thought I’d be getting relationship advice from Casey about his brother. I take it, though, and send a lone heart.
I get one back almost immediately.
Stacey
Miss you so fucking much already. We’re done at the bank. We’ll be home soon.
I show the message to Casey.
“See?” he says.
“Yeah, okay. I was stressed about nothing.”
Me
I miss you so much, too. I need your body. It’s cold in here.
Stacey
That all I am to you? A human heater?
Me
Maybe.
Okay, flirting with him’s fucking fun.
Once again, Stacey’s pulled out his special magic and I’m right as rain. I even text him a few more times to rat Casey out for not using a bowl for his chips and wiping his hands on his pants instead of washing them. All things I would have done before.
I can do this.
An hour later, the door swings open. Stacey and Sutter stride through it. I should play it cool, but I can’t. I’m off the couch before Casey, launching myself at Stacey. He catches me, lifting me into his big arms.
“I’m not mad about getting greeted like this. Not one bit,” he says.
“What the fuck am I? Chopped liver?” Sutter says. Casey’s too busy watching every move I make to give Sutter any attention.
Casey winks at me out of view of Sutter, whose attention has momentarily shifted to sliding off his shoes.
“You went to the bank, not off to war, Sutter.”
“Get your ass over here, kitten.”
Casey bounds over and Sutter catches him in a kiss. “You taste like ketchup chips,” Sutter says matter-of-factly as if he checks Casey’s flavor every hour. Probably does. He rubs noses with Casey. Yeah, rubs noses. They do that a lot.
